Proverbs 8
8
Wisdom’s autobiography
1Doesn’t Wisdom cry out
and Understanding shout?
2Atop the heights along the path,
at the crossroads she takes her stand.
3By the gate before the city,
at the entrances she shouts:
4I cry out to you, people;
my voice goes out to all of humanity.
5Understand skill, you who are naive.
Take this to heart, you fools.
6Listen, for I speak things that are correct;
from my lips comes what is right.
7My mouth utters the truth;
my lips despise wickedness.
8All the words of my mouth are righteous;
nothing in them is twisted or crooked.
9All of them are straightforward to those who understand,
and upright for the knowledgeable.
10Take my instruction rather than silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold.
11Wisdom is better than pearls;
nothing is more delightful than she.
12I, Wisdom, dwell with prudence;
I have found knowledge and discretion.
13To fear the LORD is to hate evil.
I hate pride and arrogance,
the path of evil and corrupt speech.
14I have advice and ability,
as well as understanding and strength.
15By me kings rule,
and princes issue righteous decrees.
16By me rulers govern,
and officials judge righteously.#8.16 Heb uncertain
17I love those who love me;
those who seek me will find me.
18Riches and honor are with me,
as well as enduring wealth and righteousness.
19My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold;
my crops are better than choice silver.
20I walk on the way of righteousness,
on the paths of justice,
21to provide for those who love me
and to fill up their treasuries.
22The LORD created me at the beginning of his way,
before his deeds long in the past.
23I was formed in ancient times,
at the beginning, before the earth was.
24When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth,
when there were no springs flowing with water.
25Before the mountains were settled,
before the hills, I was brought forth;
26before God#8.26 Heb lacks God. made the earth and the fields
or the first of the dry land.
27I was there when he established the heavens,
when he marked out the horizon on the deep sea,
28when he thickened the clouds above,
when he secured the fountains of the deep,
29when he set a limit for the sea,
so the water couldn’t go beyond his command,
when he marked out the earth’s foundations.
30I was beside him as a master of crafts.#8.30 Heb uncertain
I was having fun,
smiling before him all the time,
31frolicking with his inhabited earth
and delighting in the human race.
32Now children, listen to me:
Happy are those who keep to my ways!
33Listen to instruction, and be wise;
don’t avoid it.
34Happy are those who listen to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorposts.
35Those who find me find life;
they gain favor from the LORD.
36Those who offend me injure themselves;
all those who hate me love death.
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 8
8
Wisdom’s Announcement
1Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise its voice?
2 ⌞Wisdom⌟ takes its stand on high ground,
by the wayside where the roads meet,
3near the gates to the city.
At the entrance ⌞wisdom⌟ sings its song,
4“I am calling to all of you,
and my appeal is to all people.
5You gullible people, learn how to be sensible.
You fools, get a heart that has understanding.
6Listen! I am speaking about noble things,
and my lips will say what is right.
7My mouth expresses the truth,
and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.
8Everything I say is fair,
and there is nothing twisted or crooked in it.
9All of it is clear to a person who has understanding
and right to those who have acquired knowledge.
10Take my discipline, not silver,
and my knowledge rather than fine gold,
11because wisdom is better than jewels.
Nothing you desire can equal it.
Wisdom’s Authority
12“I, Wisdom, live with insight,
and I acquire knowledge and foresight.
13To fear the Lord is to hate evil.
I hate pride, arrogance, evil behavior, and twisted speech.
14Advice and priceless wisdom are mine.
I, Understanding, have strength.
15Through me kings reign,
and rulers decree fair laws.
16Through me princes rule,
so do nobles and all fair judges.
17I love those who love me.
Those eagerly looking for me will find me.
18I have riches and honor,
lasting wealth and righteousness.
19What I produce is better than gold, pure gold.
What I yield is better than fine silver.
20I walk in the way of righteousness, on the paths of justice,
21to give an inheritance to those who love me
and to fill their treasuries.
Wisdom as Creator
22“The Lord already possessed me long ago,
when his way began,
before any of his works.
23I was appointed from everlasting
from the first,
before the earth began.
24I was born
before there were oceans,
before there were springs filled with water.
25I was born
before the mountains were settled in their places
and before the hills,
26when he had not yet made land or fields
or the first dust of the world.
27“When he set up the heavens, I was there.
When he traced the horizon on the surface of the ocean,
28when he established the skies above,
when he determined the currents in the ocean,
29when he set a limit for the sea
so the waters would not overstep his command,
when he traced the foundations of the earth,
30I was beside him as a master craftsman.
I made him happy day after day,
I rejoiced in front of him all the time,
31found joy in his inhabited world, and delighted in the human race.
Wisdom as Lifegiver
32“Now, sons, listen to me.
Blessed are those who follow my ways.
33Listen to discipline, and become wise.
Do not leave my ways.
34Blessed is the person who listens to me,
watches at my door day after day,
and waits by my doorposts.
35Whoever finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the Lord.
36Whoever sins against me harms himself.
All those who hate me love death.”
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.